When the economy goes south like it has for so many of us, it can be very difficult to keep our faith. We may be faithful servants of the Lord and we ask ourselves, “Why would God allow this to happen?” Bills aren’t getting paid. Creditors may be calling. The kids may want to do an activity or sport that you can’t afford. Maybe you have had a tooth ache start up, but you can’t afford a dentist. It can be very frustrating and stressful. At least our creditors aren’t like the Old Testament creditors were. They frequently took your children as payment. Maybe some days that might sound tempting, but soon you would miss the hair pulling and screaming. I am referring to between the kids, not your own. Read II Kings 4: 1-7.
One of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, has died. You know that your servant feared the LORD. Now the creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves.” 2 Elisha asked her, “What can I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” 3 Then he said, “Go and borrow empty containers from everyone—from all your neighbors. Do not get just a few. 4 Then go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour oil into all these containers. Set the full ones to one side.” 5 So she left. After she had shut the door behind her and her sons, they kept bringing her [containers], and she kept pouring. 6 When they were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another container.” But he replied, “There aren’t any more.” Then the oil stopped. 7 She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go sell the oil and pay your debt; you and your sons can live on the rest.”
This widow woman did the right thing. Wisely, she cried out to God’s representative. She knew Elisha was a powerful profit. What better place to turn. Elisha asked a simple question, “What do you have in the house?” It’s a pretty sad day when all you can say you have in the house is a jar of oil. There are days I think I don’t have much, but I can look in my cabinet and see more than my cooking oil. I won’t be starving for many days. What have I got to complain about? Let’s get back to the widow. I think she had more than just oil in the house. She had wisdom and faith. After she answered, Elisha gave very specific instructions. Next the widow made another wise decision. She did what the profit told her to do. What made her do that? Did she trust him, because of the past miracles he had done? Did she trust that God was speaking through him? Did she figure, “Why not, what else do I have to lose?” Whatever her motivation she took of what she had and she trusted and obeyed in wisdom. As a result, she was blessed. God provided for her and her children. God showed that He cared for her.
There are three things the widow has taught us that we need to remember: 1) Call out to God 2) Don’t be afraid to use what God calls you to use for Him 3) Wisdom is always to trust and obey God. Trust God in your difficult times and let Him provide and care for you. You won’t be disappointed. So what do you have in the house?
